Centering apparatus for the bowling pins of an automatic pin spotting machine



Oct. 15, 1968 A. SCHMID 3,405,940

CENTERING APPARATUS FOR THE BOWLING PINS OF AN AUTOMATIC PIN SPOTTINGMACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r m I 5;

y z A v 1. 79a 20 19b 9C 77 I9 12 21 Augus JM INVENTOR BY (DM L]. KQMMOct. 15, 1968 A. HMID 3,405,940

CENTERING APPARATUS THE BOWLING PINS OF AN AUTOMATIC PIN SPOTTINGMACHINE Filed Feb. 21. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet Aususi Sclm'ul INVENTOR BYEMA? KQQMM United States Patent 3,405,940 CENTERING APPARATUS FOR THEBOWLING PINS OF AN AUTOMATIC PIN SPOTIING MACHINE August Schmid,Schwerzenbach, Switzerland, assignor to PatentsverwertungsundFinanzierungsgesellschaft Serania AG., Glarus, Switzerland, acorporation of Switzerland Filed Feb. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 528,867 Claimspriority, application Switzerland, Feb. 26, 1965, 2,700/ 65 11 Claims.(Cl. 273-44) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A centering apparatus for thebowling pins of a bowling pin spotting machine wherein each bowling pinis secured to a pulling rope. A support member carries a hollow memberwhich is provided for each bowling pin to be spotted. A centering headis disposed within the hollow member for properly aligning theassociated head of the bowling pin, and a sleeve member is disposedbeneath the support member and substantially coaxially arranged withrespect to the aforementioned hollow member. Flexible centering meansprovided at said sleeve member can be adjusted in radial direction forcentering the belly of the bowling pin.

The present invention has reference to a new and improved constructionof centering apparatus for the bowling pins of an automatic bowling pinsetting or spotting machine wherein each such pin is affixed to apulling cable or rope.

One problem existing with such type centering apparatuses is to align orbring the bowling pins raised by the associated rope or cable into sucha position that after lowering them they are located in the correctposition. This requires an exact adjustment possibility of the centeringmeans at the site of the bowling machine.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is concerned with animproved centering apparatus for the bowling pins of a pin spottingmachine which properly aligns the raised pins such that they can becorrectly spotted at the pin spotting section of the bowling alley.

Another noteworthy object of my invention is directed to an improvedcentering apparatus for bowling pins which is relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, uncomplicated in its physical structure, highly reliable inoperation, and easy to service and maintain.

Yet a further important object of this invention resides in theprovision of a centering apparatus for bowling pins which properlyaligns such while in raised position so that upon lowering thereof ontothe pin spotting section of the bowling alley, these pins are properlyspotted, and further, it is possible to easily readjust the aligningcapability of the centering apparatus.

In order to implement these and still further objects of the inventionwhich will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, theinventive centering apparatus is manifested by the features of ahood-shaped member located above a support plate, a centering headdisposed within said hood-shaped member for properly aligning the headof the associated bowling pin, a sleeve member disposed beneath saidsupport plate and substantially coaxially arranged with respect to thehood-shaped member, and flexible centering means provided at said sleevemember which are adjustable in radial direction for the centering oraligning of the belly of the bowling pin. The inventive device enablesthe provision or utilization of relatively simple centering means whichcan be easily adjusted and economically manufactured from synthetic3,405,940 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 material, e.g. plastic, and apart fromsuch, is not readily sensitive to impacts or blows.

Other features, objects andv advantages of the invention will becomeapparent by reference to the following detail description and drawingsin which: 1

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the inventivecentering apparatus depicting details thereof with a bowling pin raisedwithin the hood-shaped member, and as taken along the line II of FIGURE2;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the hood-shaped member for a bowling pinof the centering apparatus of FIG- URE l; and

FIGURE 3 is a front view depicting details of the centering ring used inthe arrangement of FIGURE 1.

Describing now the drawings and, in particular, directing attention toFIGURE 1, it will be understood that above the pin spotting section ofthe non-illustrated bowling alley there is located a support member suchas a support plate or frame 10 at which there is aflixed as manycentering apparatuses as there are bowling pins 3. The mutual positionof each of the centering devices or means with respect to one anothercorresponds to the position of the bowling pins to be spotted upon thebowling alley. Generally speaking, after the bowling ball has beenthrown, the bowling pins are raised by means of a respective pullingcable 9 attached in suitable manner to the head 26 of each bowling pin3, then aligned or centered by the associated centering device, andthereafter again deposited in the proper position onto the bowlingalley.

The centering device or apparatus of the invention comprises a hollowraised pin-receiving member such as the hood-shaped member 11 preferablyformed of a transparent synthetic material, eg, plastic, which possessesa radially projecting flange 16 bearing upon the upper surface of theattachment or support plate 10. The lower cylindrical portion 5 of thehood-shaped member 11 telescopically engages with a hollow annularsleeve member 12 secured to the underface of the plate 10, so that thissleeve member 12 and the hood-shaped member 11 are centered relative toone another and extend coaxially with respect to one another.Hood-shaped member 11 includes a hood head portion 13 Within which thereis arranged a centering head means 14 formed of flexible rubber orsynthetic material, such as a flexible plastic. This centering headmeans 14 is advantageously of substantially circular configuration andpossesses an outwardly depend ing marginal edge 8 engaged from beneathby a rib 7 of the hood-shaped member 11. This centering head means 14further possesses inwardly directed shoulders or ribs 6 which bearagainst the head 26 of the raised bowling pin 3 aflixed to the pullingcable or rope 9 and serves to center or align such pin.

It will also be recognized that an annular intermediate compartment orspace 4 is formed between the cylindrical portion 5 of the hood-shapedmember 11 and the depicted opening of the support plate 10 receiving theformer and by means of which it is possible to undertake a courseadjustment of the centering device. The sleeve member 12 is provided atits upper end with a radially extending flange 17 hearing against theunderface of the support plate 10. This flange 17 possesses asubstantially square or rectangular configuration and is clamped to theflange 16 of the hood-shaped member 11 by means of four screws 19' orequivalent fastening expedients passing through suitable apertures 19aof the support plate 10.

It will also be seen that at the underface of the sleeve member 12 thereis attached by means of four screws 20 or the like a centering ring 18having a form as best seen by reference to FIGURE 3. A metallicreinforcement ring 19 having a central opening 1% bounded by curvedwalls is disposed between the radially extending collar 21 of the hollowsleeve 12 and the aforementioned centering ring 18. The openings 21a atthe radially inwardly directed collar 21 as well as at the reinforcementring 19, and designated by reference character 19d, are constructed aselongated holes extending in radial direction and permitting fineadjustment of the centering ring 18 by means of the associated screws20. Naturally, the elongated holes could be alternatively provided atthe centering ring 18. Moreover, a respective threaded plate 31cooperates with each screw 20 for the attachment of the centering ring18 and the reinforcement ring 19, and wherein these screws are seated ina respective recessed bore 32 of the centering ring 18 and areaccessible from therebelow. Screws 20 are preferably provided with ahexagonal head 20a.

As best seen by referring to FIGURE 3 this centering ring 18 possessesfour inwardly directed projections 22, 23, 24 and 25 between which thebelly 27 of the bowling pin to be aligned is guided and thus properlycentered. Each of these projections 22, 23, 24 and 25 is advantageouslyprovided or may be provided with a slotted recess 33 in order toincrease the flexibility of each such projection. Naturally, if asufficiently elastic material is chosen which is not readily subject towear, then such recesses can be dispensed with.

A rotatable roller is mounted upon the head 13 of the hood-shaped member11 and is retained for rotation in a bearing element 34 with the aid ofa suitable bolt 35. This bearing element or block 34 can be positionallyadjusted about the vertical axis of the hood-shaped member with the aidof screws 36 piercingly extending through the segmented slots 37 topermit limited displacement of the roller 15. Once such desired positionhas been selected then the bearing block is fixed by means of theaforementioned screws 36. To enable the pulling cable or rope 9 passingabout the deflecting roller 15 to piercingly extend through the headportion 13 of the hood-shaped member 11, there is provided thereat ahollow sleeve 38 which also keeps down wear of the pulling rope.

After each throw of the bowling ball all of the bowling pins are raisedin the usual manner irrespective whether they are deadwood or stillstanding, by means of the respective pulling rope 9 associated with eachbowling pin 3. Hence, each such bowling pin is pulled into theassociated centering apparatus or device. In the uppermost position, thehead 26 of the bowling pin 3 bears against the shoulders or ribs 6 andat the same time the belly portion 27 thereof is tightly or snuglyguided at the centering ring 18. Inasmuch as both the centering headmeans 14 as well as also the centering ring 18 are formed of a softplastic or rubber for instance, they are able to quickly dampen anyoscillatory or pendulum motion of the raised bowling pin 3. Thereafter,the bowling pins 3 suspended upon their pulling ropes or cables 9 areagain lowered onto the bowling alley, and specifically in their correctpredetermined positions, in other words properly spotted, so that thenext bowling ball can be thrown.

The hood-shaped member 11 is preferably formed of a transparentsynthetic material to facilitate the exact adjustment with raisedbowling pin 3. Of course, it would also be possible, if the surface orjacket of such hoodshaped member were provided with openings, to carryout such adjustment in reasonably simple manner.

The reinforcement ring 19 is advantageously formed of metal and canserve to defiect the bowling pin head if such should arrive at aninclination in the opening thereof. Owing to the fact that the centeringapparatus is essentially formed of thermoplastic elements, it isunnecessary to subsequently mechanically work them, and by means of theinventive device it is possible to con struct lightweight, noisefree andeconomical bowling pin centering installations.

While there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of theinvention it is to be distinctly understood thatthe inventionis not.limited. thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practisedwithin the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Centering apparatus for the bowling pins of a bowling pin spottingmachine wherein each bowling pin is secured to a pulling rope,comprising, in combination, a support plate, a hollow hood-shapedmembercarried by and extending above said support plate provided for eachbowling pin to be spotted, a centering head located within said hollowhood-shaped member forpr'operly aligning the associated head of thebowling pin, a sleeve member disposed beneath said support plate andsubstantially coaxially arranged with respect to said hollow hood-shapedmember, flexible centering means provided at said sleeve member mountedto be adjustable in radial direction for centering the belly of thebowling pin, said flexible centering means comprising a centering ringincorporating at least three radially extending projections distributedsubstantially uniformly about the inner circumference of said centeringring, and a metallic reinforcement ring located above said centeringring and radially outwardly withdrawn with respect to said radiallyextending. projections capable of bearing against the belly of thebowling pin when in raised position.

2. Centering apparatus for the bowling pins of a bowling pin spottingmachine as defined in claim 1, said sleeve member having a radiallyextending collar, fastening means extending in axial direction andcooperating with each radially extending projection of said centeringring and piercingly extending through said radially extending collar,said fastening means being accessible from beneath said centering ring,and means cooperating with said fastening means for permittingadjustment of the position of said radially extending projections.

3. Centering apparatus for the bowling pins of a bowling pin spottingmachine as defined in claim 2, wherein said means cooperating with saidfastening means comprises radially directed elongated holes.

4. Centering apparatus for the bowling pins of a bowling pin spottingmachine as defined in claim 3, wherein said radially directed elongatedholes are provided at least at said radially extending collar.

5. Centering apparatus for the bowling pins of a bowling pin spottingmachine, wherein each bowling pin is secured to a pulling rope,comprising a hollow member provided for each bowling pin to be spotted,a centering head located within said hollow member for properly aligningthe associated head of the bowling pin, a sleeve member disposed beneathand substantially coaxially arranged with respect to said hollow member,flexible centering means provided at the lower region of said sleevemember for centering the belly of the bowling pin, said flexiblecentering means incorporating a centering ring provided with a pluralityof radially extending projections distributed about the innercircumference of said centering ring, said centering ring and saidradially extending projections being formed of one single piece ofelastic material, fastening means protruding from said centering ring inan axial direction and cooperating with said sleeve member, means forpermitting adjustment of the position ofv each of said radiallyextending projections independently of each other by loosening saidfastening means.

6. Centering apparatus for the bowling pins of a bowling pin spottingmachine as defined in claim 5, wherein said hollow member and saidsleeve member telescopical- 1y engage and are centered with respect toone another.

7. Centering apparatus for the bowling pins of a bowling pin spottingmachine as defined in claim 6, wherein said sleeve member encircles saidhollow member.

8. Centering apparatus for the bowling pins of a bowl ing pin spottingmachine as defined in claim 5, further including a deflecting rolleradjustably mounted upon said hollow member for movement about itsvertical axis.

9. Centering apparatus for the bowling pins of a bowling pin spottingmachine as defined in claim 5, wherein said hollow member is constructedas a transparent, onepiece plastic hood.

10. Centering apparatus for the bowling pins of a bowling pin spottingmachine wherein each bowling pin is se cured to a pulling rope,comprising a support member having an opening, a hollow member providedfor each bowling pin to be spotted, said hollow member including radialflange means bearing upon said support member, said hollow memberfurther including a lower portion which cooperates with said opening ofsaid support member to define an intermediate compartment allowing forcoarse adjustment of the centering apparatus, a centering head locatedwithin said hollow member for properly aligning the associated head ofthe bowling pin, a sleeve member disposed beneath and substantiallycoaxially arranged with respect to said hollow member, said sleevemember having radial flange means at its upper region bearing againstthe underface of said support member, with said lower portion and saidsleeve member telescopically interfitting, flexible centering meansprovided at the lower region of said sleeve member for centering thebelly of the bowling pin, said flexible centering means incorporating acentering ring provided with a plurality of radially extendingprojections distributed about the inner circumference of said centeringring, a reinforcement ring disposed above said centering ring, saidsleeve member having a radially inwardly directed collar means at itslower end for supporting said reinforcement ring and said centeringring, and radial slit means for enabling a radial fine adjustment ofeach one of said radially extending projections relative to said sleevemember.

11. Centering apparatus for the bowling pins of a bowling pin spottingmachine wherein each bowling pin is secured to a pulling rope,comprising, in combination, a support member, a raised pin-receivingmember carried by said support member and provided for each bowling pinto be spotted, a centering head located within said raised pin-receivingmember for properly aligning the associated head of the bowling pin, asleeve member disposed beneath said support member and substantiallycoaxially arranged with respect to said raised pin-receiving member,flexible centering means provided at said sleeve member mounted to beadjustable in radial direction for centering the belly of the bowlingpin, said flexible centering means comprising a centering ringincorporating radially extending projections distributed substantiallyuniformly about the inner circumference of said centering ring, and areinforcement ring located above said centering ring and radiallyoutwardly Withdrawn with respect to said radially extending projectionscapable of bearing against the belly of the bowling pin when in raisedposition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,794,968 3/1931 Lloyd 273-442,327,350 8/1943 Hartwig 273-44 3,090,619 5/1963 Plant 273-44 FOREIGNPATENTS 227,584 5/1963 Austria. 254,562 1/ 1949 Switzerland.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner.

